LUCIA beamline

LUCIA is characterized by the production of a microfocused beam in the 0.8-8 keV energy range. The spatial stability of the beam spot over a wide spectral range enables elemental distribution studies by micro-fluorescence X-ray spectroscopy (µ-XRF) as well as elemental speciation by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) in heterogeneous samples.

A study led on the DIFFABS and LUCIA beamlines by scientists from the Research Platform on Ancient Materials IPANEMA (CNRS, MCC) and from the SOLEIL synchrotron facility reported a micrometric mapping of cerium concentration and speciation on several fossils. Those results, published in the review Analytical Chemistry, give insights on past geological or climatic conditions on Earth. [Full story]